# Bookie (TV series)

Bookie is an American comedy television series created by Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay starring Sebastian Maniscalco, Omar Dorsey, Andrea Anders, Vanessa Ferlito, Jorge Garcia, and Maxim Swinton. It premiered on Max on November 30, 2023. In January 2024, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on December 12, 2024. In February 2025, the series was canceled after two seasons.

## Premise

A veteran bookie must fight to survive the legalization of sports gambling, increasingly unstable clients, and fast-paced life in Los Angeles.

## Cast
### Main

* Sebastian Maniscalco as Danny Colavito
* Omar Dorsey as Rayfield "Ray" Ballard
* Andrea Anders as Sandra
* Vanessa Ferlito as Lorraine Colavito
* Jorge Garcia as Hector
* Maxim Swinton as Anthony
* Rob Corddry as Walt Dinty
* Selina Kaye as Janelle

### Recurring

* Arnetia Walker as Grandma Marion
* Toby Huss as Carl Lurtsema
* Dale Dickey as Wendy

### Guest

* Charlie Sheen as himself
* Patrick Cage as Tarifa
* Jennifer Taylor as Crying Woman
* Eugene Byrd as himself
* Eddie Gorodetsky as himself
* Angus T. Jones as himself
* Ray Romano as Artie
* Izzy Diaz as Jerry the Waiter
* Jack Doolan as Bobby Knox
* Wayne Knight as Cowboy
* C.S. Lee as Jack Han
* Bob Clendenin as Gregory
* Rebekah Graf as Girlfriend
* Brent Jennings as John Franklin
* Laraine Newman as Eileen
* Danny Woodburn as Petey
* Jeff Perry as Accountant
* Christopher Shyer as Patrick Ryan
* Jay Huguley as Dr. Hegland
* Roma Maffia as Nancy
* Stephen Guarino as Viggy
* Nelson Franklin as Kevin Miller
* DJ Qualls as Alan
* Ashley Spillers as Mrs. Miller
* Joanna Sotomura as Gabby
* Zach Braff as Loco Rocco
* Brad Garrett as Brad

## Episodes
### Series overview

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 8 | 8 | November 30, 2023 (2023-11-30) | December 21, 2023 (2023-12-21) |
| 2 | 8 | 8 | December 12, 2024 (2024-12-12) | January 30, 2025 (2025-01-30) |

### Season 1 (2023)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 1 | 1 | "Always Smell the Money" | Chuck Lorre | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | November 30, 2023 (2023-11-30) | T12.17851 |
| 2 | 2 | "Making Lemonade" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | November 30, 2023 (2023-11-30) | T12.17852 |
| 3 | 3 | "Trust Your Sphincter" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | December 7, 2023 (2023-12-07) | T12.17853 |
| 4 | 4 | "Some Whales Nix the Vig" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | December 7, 2023 (2023-12-07) | T12.17854 |
| 5 | 5 | "Beware the Family Jewels" | Ken Whittingham | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | December 14, 2023 (2023-12-14) | T12.17855 |
| 6 | 6 | "Nepo Bookies" | Kyle Newacheck | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | December 14, 2023 (2023-12-14) | T12.17856 |
| 7 | 7 | "The Super Bowl: God's Gift to Bookies" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | December 21, 2023 (2023-12-21) | T12.17857 |
| Note: This episode was dedicated to Marvin Miles, who died on August 3, 2023 at the age of 72. The vanity card reads: "In Memory of "Marvelous" Marvin Miles". |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "A Square Job in a Round Hole" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | December 21, 2023 (2023-12-21) | T12.17858 |

### Season 2 (2024–25)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 9 | 1 | "Mahnanga" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | December 12, 2024 (2024-12-12) | T12.19201 |
| 10 | 2 | "Go to the Labia" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | December 19, 2024 (2024-12-19) | TBA |
| 11 | 3 | "Boom, Done, Hello Jesus" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | December 26, 2024 (2024-12-26) | TBA |
| 12 | 4 | "Make It Look Like an Accident" | Richard L. Fox | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | January 2, 2025 (2025-1-2) | TBA |
| 13 | 5 | "Fruit's for Partners" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | January 9, 2025 (2025-1-9) | TBA |
| 14 | 6 | "Spooning Is Not Necrophilia" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | January 16, 2025 (2025-1-16) | TBA |
| 15 | 7 | "Sphincter Money" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | January 23, 2025 (2025-1-23) | TBA |
| 16 | 8 | "A Whale in Pomona" | Andy Tennant | Chuck Lorre & Nick Bakay | January 30, 2025 (2025-1-30) | TBA |

## Production
### Development

On October 4, 2022, it was announced that HBO Max had given an eight-episode straight-to-series order to a comedy series created by Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay, titled How to Be a Bookie. It was also announced that Sebastian Maniscalco would star in a leading role in the series. Lorre (through his Chuck Lorre Productions banner), Nick Bakay, Maniscalco and Judi Marmel are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television. Bookie premiered on Max on November 30, 2023. On January 5, 2024, Max renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on December 12, 2024. In February 2025, the series was canceled after two seasons.

### Casting

On November 7, 2022, it was announced that Omar Dorsey, Andrea Anders, Vanessa Ferlito and Jorge Garcia had joined the cast. On December 13, 2022, it was announced that Maxim Swinton had also joined the cast. On April 17, 2023, Charlie Sheen joined the cast in a recurring role.

### Filming

Bookie was filmed in Los Angeles County, California. Champs Sports Pub in Burbank, California, was used as a shooting location in several episodes.

## Release

The first season of Bookie was released on Max from November 30 to December 21, 2023. The second season of Bookie was released on Max from December 12, 2024 to January 30, 2025.

## Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 10 critics' reviews of season one are positive, with an average rating of 7.1/10.